UPLIFT

😘

Somewhere along the way, we started telling parents of disabled children to practice more self-care.

Take the bath.
Drink the coffee.
Go for the walk.
Take the weekend away.

And hear me loud and clearly…

Do those things.

Self-care matters. It isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.

But self-care was never meant to compensate for inaccessible services, years-long waitlists, insurance denials, impossible paperwork, provider shortages, financial strain, sleepless nights, or a society that still expects families to “figure it out.”

A bubble bath doesn’t fix a broken Medicaid waiver system.

A massage doesn’t create respite services.

A weekend away doesn’t make inclusive schools, affordable therapies, or accessible healthcare magically appear.

Self-care doesn’t repair broken systems.

It helps us survive them.

And that’s a really important distinction.

As caregivers, we need to refill our cups, not because it’s our responsibility to carry what should have been shared all along, but because we need the strength to keep showing up for the people we love… and to keep fighting for the systems they deserve.

Take the walk.
Drink the coffee.
Rest when you can.

Not because it fixes the problem.

Because the work of creating change requires people who have enough left in them to keep going.

That’s not giving up.

That’s sustaining hope.

💛☕🌻



amanda.griffith.atkins 🫶🏻

🚨 Don't miss AMCHP's webinar this coming Tuesday, July 21, on aligning early childhood systems through shared outcome measures, featuring peer spotlights from Massachusetts, Ohio, and South Dakota, and facilitated breakout discussions with early childhood leaders.

Register now and share with your network: bit.ly/ECC-July26

If you aren't familiar with this valuable resource, here's your opportunity to check them out!

🎉 **You're Invited to Our July Open Houses!** 🎉

Join Wyoming Independent Living on **Tuesday, July 15, from 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.** as all five of our Centers open their doors to the community!

Stop by to:
✨ Meet our staff
🏢 Tour your local Center
🤝 Connect with others in the community
🎈 Enjoy a welcoming, fun atmosphere
🍪 Light refreshments

We're also celebrating **Disability Pride Month** and the **36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)**—a landmark law that has helped expand access, opportunity, and inclusion for millions of Americans with disabilities.

Whether you've worked with us before or are just curious about what we do, we'd love to meet you!

📍 Visit the Wyoming Independent Living Center nearest you:
• Casper – 305 W. 1st Street
• Cheyenne – 1609 E. 19th Street
• Sheridan – 882 Lincoln Dr., Suite D
• Gillette – 405 W. Boxelder Drive
• Laramie – 1050 N. 3rd Street, Suite B1

We hope to see you there!